And why were they blessed? It was not because of their poverty, but because of the simplicity of their heart. Jesus was not preaching a resignation to their poverty, but a declaration of the importance of the poor in the eyes of God. They were not to resign themselves to their state of misery, but to move forward with a vision of the possibilities they had, as well-beloved of God. It was a message of encouragement, hope and joy. It was a message that only they, the poor, could grasp. The rich were justified. They believed that their wealth was a sign of their favor with God. But Jesus was extending to the poor a reverse view of the Kingdom. In the Kingdom of Jesus, those who sought truth, justice and compassion were the happy ones. This Gospel comes at a good time. We live in a world that measures success by how rich one is. The Gospel gives us an opportunity to hear the words of Jesus as if for the first time. We must consider our heart. Are we pleased? Are we satisfied with the world's goods? Or can we see the emptiness in our hearts and recognize that we need something more? Where we are? If we can recognize our lack of compassion, forgiveness and generosity, we are among the poor of the earth. If we can see our need for patience, for self-sacrifice, for a change of lifestyle, we are among the poor of the earth. If we can understand that today we can start anew, that we can enter a path of compassion, we are among the poor of the earth. And if we can present ourselves before God humble and not full of himself, we are in a good condition to start anew. With this wisdom we can move forward, knowing that we will find ourselves among the blessed of the Kingdom.